Justification:
The last known individual of A. atollensis was seen in 1964 and is now thought to be extinct. Islands where this species was most commonly found have been heavily affected by the development of military installations. The decline of the species has been attributed to this development, as well as the introduction of alien plants and animals.

Previously recorded on the islands of Kure Atoll, Midway Atoll, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and Laysan. The last known individual was seen in 1964. Treated by Govaerts in the World Checklist of Seed Plants 1(1): 6 (1995) as a variety of Achyranthes splendens.